Keeping it a secret???

Has anyone kept their WLS a secret?  Although I did "joke" about getting the lap band with some of my co-workers and friends, I now think it would be best to keep my decision to have RNY between my wife and myself.   Being that I "only" have 60 -65 pounds to lose, I think I could get away with saying that I am paying closer attention to what and how much I'm eating along with cranking up my exercise program.  Pretty much everyone I know has seen me very physically fit in the past when I would go through one of my "hair-brain schemes" to get in shape and somehow get paid for it.   I already am poked some fun at by my friends (and sometimes by myself) about how I let myself go (again) after having been very lean only 6 years ago.  In fact just this past weekend while I was playing basketball, I was complaining about my knee (and was joking that I needed to lose 60 lbs) one of the other guys who happens to be an doctor said, "I remember when you Mr. Fitness."   Anyway, I could explain away my future hopeful weight loss to the people I joked about the lap band to, by saying "I didn't want any plastic in me and that since I lost weight in the past with more conventional methods I could do it again."   Just some rambling thoughts from a decieving demented lying sinner.  Thanks for listening. Sonny

I kept it a secret.  I come from a large family and the only people who know are my closest sister and my four closest friends (oh...my doctor of course).  I felt that the decision was a personal one and I did not want comments or questions from people around me.  My boyfriend does not even know. In fact, I am not sure he even noticed the scars.  Not telling is very different from lying.  Your business it your own.  When people question the loss I tell them that I eat smaller potions and watch my carb intake which is all true.  I also work out five days a week which helps people to understand the loss without believing that I am ill.  Hope this helps.

I sisn't keep it a secret. I had lap RNY and it didn't matter to me what anyone thought. I did what was best of rme. That siad, I can respect your decision to keep the info to yourself.  The decision to have these procedures is extremely personal and like I did with mine, everyone needs to do what's best for them... Wishing you all continued success...

I had my surgery 19 months ago and I have only told my family and 2 of my friends and my parents thats it. I don't want any judgement from anyone and this was my choice. Let um guess!!! My thinking was what if I fail at this to - but have made goal and holding strong. Old thinking and old habits hold on tight. I still keep it a secert.

I tell anyone and everyone.  I want to stop people in the elevator who are obese and say:  hey!  did you know there is something you can do about this? I'm not ashamed in the least.  I'm proud I had the courage to change my life around.  Why would you keep it a secret?  I have found it best to be as honest as possible in life.  I am a recovering obese person.  I accept that and acknowledge it.  If my getting the lap band will help one other person take the first step to dealing with their obesity, I will have accomplished something that day.

I did keep it a secret for 18 months, only my husband, kids, and parents knew. Simply because I was embarrased that I needed 'help' to loose weight. I told every one that I was working with a Dr and Dietician and that's how I lost weight. My main concern in telling people was that they would not be supportive in my descision. In Dec I was approached by the marketing dept in my clinic to be their 'poster child' because I have been doing so well. They wanted to put me in the paper adds and on bill boards in our county, so I knew if I said 'yes' I would have to 'come clean' with those close to me. After much thought I didd tell all my friends. It was a huge relief, and everyone was so very supportive, I now regret not telling them in the first place. Many of my freinds were concerned there was a problem with my health and that's why I was loosing weight so fast. So if you don't want your closeset friends to worry about you, tell them. Your co-workers may not need to now the details. The ultimate descision is yours. I hope this helps. HOPE

I kept it a secret for about the first year and a half. I am sure people speculated that I had it done but where I worked at the time, I did not want to be the topic of discussion. One very close and dear friend at work knew and my family knew.  Now that I reached goal....I don't care who knows and what they're feelings on the whole deal are. If they have a negative opinion about it, they don't dare tell me because I am not in the vulnerable stage of questions whether I did the right thing. I "know" I did the right thing for me.

I exercise 3 - 5 days a week and feel great. It still is a great starting tool, but the maintenance is the same anyone else who needs to diet. There is alot of care taken to watch what I eat and the activity level that I get daily.

Hope this helps.

Di

I told everybody in the known world.  People had questions.  I had answers.  If I can help even one person with my story, I am happy to do so.  It has saved my life and the lives of some I have spoken to.  That's the payback.  The fact is that we all have our own reasons for why we tell or don't..   It's personal.  Those are my reasons for telling.

I kept mine a secret from everyone but my husband, 2 of my closest friends and of course my support group.  I had some issues prior to surgery that required my taking some time off.  I used this time away as the catalyst for my weight loss.  This surgery is a tool like everything else that has to do with weight management.  It is a day to day thing that requires constant attention. I am almost 2 years out.  People for the most part have stopped speculating the "hows" and "whys" and have started asking me how do I keep the weight off.  That is more important. I initially kept it a secret because I had met with some opposition from people who thought that the surgery was the easy way out.  As a nurse, I can't imagine anyone undergoing major surgery and considering it the easy way out!!!  I also felt that people didn't ask me about which diet I was on every day of the week, so it shouldn't matter what type of plan I was using.  It was my business alone. I hope that this helps you.  Ultimately, do what you think is best for you.....noone else has to live in your skin! Anjanette

I was working in a preschool at the time of my surgery and tried to keep it a secret from both the staff and parents, but the teacher I worked with (and who I told about it) told me that it would have been hard for her to keep quiet about it while I was out on sick leave (she was and still is a big gossip), therefore I felt pressured to let the staff know. It wasn't until I left there last summer, that I didnt care anymore who knew. Nowadays, after 14 months post op I tell the world, I am 110lbs down (now weigh 120Lb) and feel absolutely wonderful,both emotionally and physically, there are some days when my head leaves my body and tells me I'm fat. But I don't care who knows about my surgery, I am proud of what I did and have no regrets.